Where The Sea Turtles Are

See that parrot waving? says Terence.

No, says Tiny Sacrifice. What parrot waving?

Okay, says Terence. You don't know her. I do.

Where is she? asks Tiny Sacrifice.

She just sailed away, says Terence. She was waving. That means....

Terence is silent. What does it mean? How did Nose escape from Stede Bonnett? She's a bandicoot, with stuck-on pink feathers. It's not like she could fly. Unless she had learned to.

Tiny Sacrifice is still assuming that the parrot is a parrot.

Waving.

He wishes he could do that.

The catamaran starts moving.

We're off! says Mrs Thomas-Hume. Now Terence, keep away from the railing.

She goes off to look for a drink and a cushion.

Yay! says Terence. We're following the pirate ship. We'll catch up, and find her. I knew it would happen.

I love you, says Tiny Sacrifice. Do you want to know why?

Yes, why? asks Terence.

Because you know what's going to happen, says Tiny Sacrifice. BEFORE IT EVEN HAPPENS!

Such a thing had not occurred to Terence.

No, says Terence. It's already happened. We're following Nose. That's what I knew. So you don't have to love me.

Sorry, says Tiny Sacrifice.

You can if you want to, says Terence. Even better, you can be my... no you can't...

What? asks Tiny Sacrifice.

Parrot, says Terence. But that's what Nose is. Especially now she can fly.

Until you find her, says Tiny Sacrifice. I'll be your Until-Parrot.

You don't know how to be one, says Terence.

But it's tempting, to have an Until-Parrot.

Okay. It means you have to do what I tell you.

Okay, says Tiny Sacrifice. What do you want?

I want to dive and see See-Turtles, says Terence. But I'm not allowed to.

Hmm, says Tiny Sacrifice, as though he is thinking.

But he has no idea how to arrange it.

The 'Lagoon' is the name of the luxury catamaran on which they are sailing. There are twelve passengers on it, a captain, four crew.

The Lagoon glides through the blue and green tropical waters towards Carlisle Bay.

This is where the sea turtles are.

The Jolly Roger has already stopped there. Nose has come down from the mast. She is in charge of the snorkels.

Everyone loves her. A bandicoot in pirate pantaloons, with a long nose, giving out snorkels. Imagine the banter. (Clue: it's snorkel/nose banter. At its simplest: Ha ha. You've got your own snorkel).

The bay is dotted with tourist vessels.

The water teems with sea turtles.

The Lagoon stops, not far from the Jolly Roger.

The Captain says: We'll stop for an hour here. The crew will help you with your snorkels. Ramon has a bucket of fish. You can feed the turtles, if they come up to you. Remember, these ancient creatures have been on the earth for more than one hundred million years so we should respect them. Afterwards we'll move to the site of a shipwreck, for diving. Then stop at Payne's Bay for lunch. I believe macaroni pie is on the menu...

Yuck, says Terence. Macaroni pie.

Tiny Sacrifice is lining up for a snorkel.

He might even pluck up some courage, and ask for two snorkels.